The chain composition of aorta basement membrane collagen IV, localization of the chains in aorta and supramolecular assembly of the collagen IV protomers.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Kalluri.
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To determine the chain composition of type IV collagen of bovine thoracic aorta, we analyzed collagenase-solubilized carboxyl-terminal noncollagenous (NC1)-domains by high-pressure liquid chromatography, two-dimensional electrophoresis, immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunoassay. In addition to the classical alpha 1- and alpha 2-chains, we found small amounts of the recently discovered alpha 3-, alpha 4- and alpha 5-chains. The alpha 3- and alpha 4-chains were, collectively, 7-13% of the total, and the alpha 5-chain was present in a low amount. Seventy-nine percent of the NC1-domains were dimerized. Immunolocalization studies on sections of aorta showed that the alpha 3- and alpha 5-chains were present, along with alpha 1- and alpha 2-chains, in the subendothelium and media. In capillaries of the media, the alpha 3-chain was found at relatively high levels and was co-localized with alpha 1- and alpha 2-chains. Digestion of aorta with Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase yielded soluble multimolecular assemblies of type IV collagen. Electron microscopy results provided a direct demonstration of the supramolecular structure, in which the collagen molecules were tetramerized at the amino-terminal end and dimerized at the carboxyl-terminal end.
Type IV collagen has recently emerged as a family composed of five known chains (alpha 1-alpha 5), each of which contains a carboxyl-terminal noncollagenous domain (NC1) of approximately 230 amino acids. The NC1 domain of the alpha 3(IV) chain is the probable target for autoantibodies in patients with Goodpasture syndrome (GP), as evidenced from studies employing bovine type IV collagen. In the present experiments, the specificity of GP antibodies for the five NC1 domains of human type IV collagen was determined by using recombinant NC1 domains as the antigen. cDNAs encoding each NC1 domain were expressed in E. coli as fusion proteins with a 6-histidine amino-terminal leader. The recombinant NC1 monomers r alpha 1(IV), r alpha 2(IV), r alpha 3(IV), r alpha 4(IV), and r alpha 5(IV) were purified by affinity chromatography to the fusion protein using a nickel resin column, and then characterized by electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis using chain-specific peptide antibodies. The specificity of GP antibodies from four patients to these recombinant proteins was then further evaluated by immunoblot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measurements. The GP antibodies reacted strongly with the r alpha 3(IV) NC1 domain but were not reactive when tested against the other four recombinant monomers. In contrast, neither antisera from patients with two other forms of autoimmune disease (anti-tubular basement membrane disease and Wegener's syndrome) nor normal control sera bound to any of the recombinant NC1 moieties. These results unambiguously establish that GP antibodies are specifically targeted to the NC1 domain of the alpha 3(IV) chain of human type IV collagen. The findings also establish a methodology for large scale preparation of r alpha 3(IV) NC1 domain for use in diagnostic tests and development of therapeutic procedures and offer a strategy for the elucidation of a more complete GP epitope by site-directed mutagenesis.
Goodpasture syndrome is an autoimmune disease causing rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage. The clinical manifestations are caused by autoantibodies that bind to a constituent, termed the Goodpasture autoantigen, of alveolar and glomerular basement membranes. Searches for the identity of this constituent have recently culminated in the discovery of two new chains (alpha 3 and alpha 4) of type IV collagen and the identification of the alpha 3 chain as the Goodpasture autoantigen. The gene, COL4A3, encoding this autoantigen was recently cloned and localized to the q35-37 region of chromosome 2. The major protomeric form of the alpha 3 chain is a homotrimer. The alpha 3-protomers associate through NC1-to-NC1 interactions mainly with each other to form a suprastructure, although some associate with protomers containing the alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains. The alpha 3-protomers also form suprastructures involving triple helical interactions of three or more protomers. The Goodpasture epitope is localized to the carboxylterminal region of the alpha 3(IV) chain, encompassing the last 36 residues of the chain, as the primary interaction site, and its structure is discontinuous.
Renal basement membranes are believed to contain five distinct type IV collagens. An understanding of the specific roles of these collagens and the specificities of their interactions will be aided by knowledge of their comparative structures. Genes for alpha 1(IV), alpha 2(IV), alpha 3(IV), and alpha 5(IV) have been cloned and the deduced peptide sequences compared. A fifth chain, alpha 4(IV), has been identified in glomerular and other basement membranes. Using a polymerase chain reaction-based strategy and short known peptide sequences from the noncollagenous domain (NC1), we have cloned and characterized partial bovine cDNAs of alpha 4(IV). Sequence analysis shows that this molecule has characteristic features of type IV collagens including an NH2-terminal Gly-X-Y domain which is interrupted at several points and a COOH-terminal NC1 domain with 12 cysteine residues in positions identical to those of other type IV collagens. Within the NC1 domain bovine alpha 4(IV) has 70, 59, 58, and 53% amino acid identity with human alpha 2(IV), alpha 1(IV), alpha 5(IV), and alpha 3(IV), respectively. Alignment of the peptides also shows that alpha 4(IV) is most closely related to alpha 2(IV). Nevertheless, in the extreme COOH-terminal region of the NC1 domain there are structural features that are unique to alpha 4(IV). Cloning of the region of alpha 4(IV) that encodes the NC1 domain allows comparison of all five type IV collagens and highlights certain regions that are likely to be important in the specificities of NC1-NC1 interactions and in other discriminant functions of these molecules.
Mutations in the COL4A5 collagen gene have been implicated as the primary defect in Alport syndrome, a heritable disorder characterized by sensorineural deafness and glomerulonephritis that progresses to end-stage renal failure. In the present study, the molecular nature of the defect in Alport glomerular basement membrane (GBM) was explored using anti-GBM alloantibodies (tissue-bound and circulating) produced in three Alport patients subsequent to renal transplantation. The alloantibodies bound to the alpha 3(IV)NC1 domain of type IV collagen and not to any other basement membrane component. In tissue sections, the alloantibodies bound specifically to peripheral GBM in normal kidney and the affected renal transplant but not to that of Alport kidney. These results establish that: the alpha 3 chain in type IV collagen molecules, the Goodpasture autoantigen, is the target alloantigen in post-transplant anti-GBM nephritis in patients with Alport syndrome, and that a molecular commonality exists in the pathogenesis of anti-GBM nephritis causing loss of renal allografts in patients with Alport syndrome and renal failure in patients with Goodpasture syndrome. These findings implicate: (1) defective assembly of type IV collagen molecules containing the alpha 3(IV) chain in Alport GBM; and (2) the existence of a mechanism linking the assembly of molecules containing the alpha 3(IV) chain with those containing the alpha 5(IV) chain.
The autoantibodies of patients with Goodpasture syndrome are primarily targeted to the noncollagenous (NC1) domain of the alpha 3(IV) chain of basement membrane collagen (Saus, J., Wieslander, J., Langeveld, J. P. M., Quinones, S., and Hudson, B. G. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 13374-13380). In the present study, the location of the Goodpasture epitope in human alpha 3NC1 was determined, and its structure was partially characterized. This was achieved by identification of regions of alpha 3NC1 which are candidates for the epitope and which are structurally unique among the five known homologous NC1 domains (alpha 1-alpha 5); amino acids that are critical for Goodpasture antibody binding, by selective chemical modifications; and regions that are critical for Goodpasture antibody binding, by synthesis of 12 alpha 3NC1 peptides and measurement of their antibody binding capacity. The carboxyl-terminal region, residues 198-233, was identified as the most likely region for the epitope. By experiment, lysine and cysteine were identified as critical amino acids for antibody binding. Three synthetic peptides were found to inhibit Goodpasture antibody binding to alpha 3NC1 markedly: a 36-mer (residues 198-233), a 12-mer (residues 222-233), and a 5-mer (residues 229-233). Together, these results strongly indicate that the Goodpasture epitope is localized to the carboxyl-terminal region of alpha 3NC1, encompassing residues 198-233 as the primary antibody interaction site and that its structure is discontinuous. These findings provide a conceptual framework for future studies to elucidate a more complete epitope structure by sequential replacement of residues encompassing the epitope using cDNA expression products and peptides synthesized chemically.
The noncollagenous (NC1) domain hexamer of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) collagen is composed of a multiplicity of monomeric and dimeric subunits, and specific subunits are the targets for anti-GBM autoantibodies of patients with Goodpasture (GP) syndrome. The identity of GBM monomers has been established and the alpha 3(IV)NC1 monomer identified as the one that binds GP antibodies (Gunwar, S., Saus, J., Noelken, M. E., and Hudson, B. G. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 5466-5469). In the present study, the chain origin of 25 dimeric components and the identity of those that bound the anti-GBM antibodies from two GP patients were determined. This was accomplished by NH2-terminal sequence analysis and immunoblotting analysis of dimeric components that were resolved by two-dimensional electrophoresis in combination with high pressure liquid chromatography. The results revealed that (a) the components are mainly homodimers of the NC1 domains of alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, and probably alpha 5 chains of collagen IV, reflecting a specificity of promoter-promoter association and (b) each homodimer had several size and charge isoforms. The GP antibodies bound exclusively to both alpha 3(IV)NC1 monomers and dimers and not to other basement membrane constituents. These findings provided new insights about the structure of GBM collagen and together with our previous findings firmly established the alpha 3(IV) chain as the target for the anti-GBM antibodies that mediate glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage in patients with Goodpasture syndrome.
The noncollagenous domain hexamer of collagen IV from bovine alveolar basement membrane was excised with bacterial collagenase, purified under nondenaturing conditions, and characterized. The hexamer is comprised of four distinct subunits [alpha 1(IV)NC1, alpha 2(IV)NC1, alpha 3(IV)NC1, and alpha 4(IV)NC1]. Each subunit exists in both monomeric and dimeric (disulfide-crosslinked) form, and both monomers and dimers have charge isoforms. Certain dimers also contain nonreducible crosslinks. The alpha 3(IV)NC1 subunit, in both the monomeric and dimeric form, reacts with Goodpasture (GP) antibodies. The GP epitope is sequestered within the hexamer and becomes reactive with antibody upon exposure with protein denaturants. These results reveal that the alveolar basement membrane hexamer is identical to the hexamer from glomerular basement membrane with respect to subunit composition, identity of subunits reacting with GP antibodies, and sequestration of the GP epitope but differs greatly in the relative amount of the GP-reactive subunit and the degree of disulfide and nondisulfide crosslinking of subunits. This study leads to the conclusion that pulmonary hemorrhage associated with GP syndrome is mediated by the same autoantibody that mediates the glomerulonephritis, namely anti-collagen [alpha 3(IV)] antibody.
Angiotensin II (ANG II) induces cellular hypertrophy of cultured proximal tubular cells from various species. This hypertrophic response is associated with an increase in synthesis of basement membrane-associated collagen type IV. Previous investigations by our group have shown that ANG II stimulates mRNA and protein expression of the "classic" alpha1 and alpha2(IV) chains in cultured murine proximal tubular cells (murine cortical tubules [MCT cells]). Since it is clearer today that kidney basement membranes also contain heterotrimers of novel type IV collagens, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether ANG II may influence the expression of alpha3 and alpha5(IV) collagen chains in MCT cells. A single dose of 10-8-10-6 M ANG II stimulated mRNA expression of alpha3(IV), but not of alpha5(IV), in MCT cells cultured in serum-free media. This response was mediated through AT1-receptors because losartan, but not an AT2-receptor antagonist, abolished the ANG II-induced expression of alpha3(IV) transcripts. Transient transfection of MCT cells with transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) antisense phosphorothioate-modified oligonucleotides partly abolished the ANG II-induced alpha3(IV) mRNA expression. Furthermore, Western blots of cellular lysates incubated with polyclonal antibodies generated against the recombinant collagen chains revealed that ANG II stimulated alpha3(IV) but not alpha5(IV) protein expression. This stimulation was partly prevented by co-incubation with a neutralizing anti-TGF-beta1-3 antibody. In summary, our data indicate that ANG II stimulates expression of the alpha3(IV) collagen chain in cultured MCT cells, due in part to TGF-beta1 activation.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether endostatin, an antiangiogenic cleavage fragment of collagen XVIII, enhances the antitumor effects of ionizing radiation (IR). Endostatin was injected to coincide with fractionated radiotherapy. METHODS: Xenografts of radioresistant SQ-20B tumor cells were established in athymic nude mice. Lewis lung carcinoma cells were injected into C57BI/6 mice. Mice bearing SQ-20B xenografts were injected intraperitoneally with 2.5 mg/kg/day of murine recombinant endostatin 5 times per week for 2 weeks 3 hours before IR treatment (50 Gy total dose). Mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma tumors were injected intraperitoneally with endostatin (2.5 mg/kg/day) four times; the first injection was given 24 hours before the first IR dose (15 Gy) and then 3 hours before IR (15 Gy/day) for 3 consecutive days. Microvascular density was assessed on tumor tissue sections by use of CD31 immunohistochemistry and light microscopy. Endothelial cell survival analyses were employed to evaluate endostatin effects on human aortic endothelial cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Endothelial cell apoptosis was examined by use of FACS analysis and DAPI microscopy. RESULTS: In SQ-20B xenografts, combined treatment with endostatin and IR produced tumor growth inhibition that was most pronounced at the nadir of regression (day 21). By day 35, tumors receiving combined treatment with endostatin and IR were 47% smaller than tumors treated with endostatin alone. Interactive cytotoxic treatment effects between endostatin and IR were also demonstrated in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma tumors. Significant tumor growth inhibition was observed in the endostatin/IR group at days 11 and 13 compared with IR alone. Histologic analyses demonstrated a reduction in microvascular density after combined treatment with endostatin and IR compared with endostatin treatment alone. Survival analyses confirmed interactive cytotoxicity between endostatin and IR in both human aortic endothelial cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells but not in SQ-20B tumor cells. Combined treatment with endostatin and IR produced an increase in cow pulmonary artery endothelial apoptosis compared with either treatment alone. DISCUSSION: The tumor regression observed after combined treatment with endostatin and IR suggests additive antitumor effects in both human and murine tumors. Importantly, the concentrations of endostatin employed produced little tumor regression when endostatin was employed as a single agent. The results from the clonogenic and apoptosis assays support the hypothesis that the endothelial compartment is the target for the endostatin/IR interaction.
Anti-alpha 3(IV) collagen autoantibodies have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Goodpasture syndrome, an autoimmune disorder causing glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage. Currently treatment involves removal of the entire IgG fraction of plasma by plasmapheresis or adsorption to protein A. The present study shows that the anti-alpha 3(IV)NC1 autoantibodies can be removed from plasma specifically and quantitatively by affinity chromatography utilizing either alpha 3 NC1 domain of bovine type IV collagen or recombinant alpha 3 NC1 domain of human type IV collagen immobilized to agarose beads. This study shows the feasibility of using affinity chromatography, as an alternative to plasmapheresis, to exclusively remove the pathogenic autoantibodies from the plasma of patients with Goodpasture syndrome.
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In human and experimental membranous nephropathy, new extracellular matrix accumulates between, and eventually surrounds, immune deposits on the subepithelial aspect of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). To define the nature and source of this newly deposited matrix, we studied by in situ hybridization and immunohistology the production and tissue deposition of the recently defined basement membrane type IV collagen chain isoforms alpha3, alpha4, and alpha5, the mesangium-specific alpha1 and alpha2 isoforms of type IV collagen, and the fibrillar interstitial type I collagen during the development of immunological injury in passive Heymann nephritis (PHN), a rodent model of membranous nephropathy. Our results show that steady-state mRNA levels of alpha3-alpha5 (IV) but not alpha1 (IV) are significantly increased in the glomeruli of rats with PHN at the peak of immunological injury after 14 days. Increased signal for alpha4 (IV) and the new appearance of alpha1 (I) could be clearly localized to glomerular podocytes, the target of injury in this model. In addition, increased levels of immunoreactive alpha3-alpha5 were visible in the peripheral and paramesangial GBM together with de novo deposits of type I collagen. A modest increase in mesangial staining for alpha1/alpha2 (IV) was present in PHN glomeruli. In rats depleted of complement for 5 days after PHN induction, the peak of alpha4 (IV) mRNA expression on day 14 was blunted. In conclusion, we have shown increased production of the intrinsic GBM type IV collagen isoforms alpha3-alpha5 and ectopic production of type I collagen by injured podocytes in PHN. These changes may contribute to the formation of an expanded and disorganized GBM, as seen in experimental and human membranous nephropathy.